Improved show-case



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS LAWRENCE BALL, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVED SHOW-CASE.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 24,919, dated August 2, 1859.

.To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS LAWRENCE BALL, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Show-Cases 3 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, in which-h Figure l represents a top view of a case of boxes with the lids of the same closed. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section taken through the red line as showing the manner of opening the boxes, one of which is shown open. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the boxes all closed.

This invention relates to all varieties of boxes or cases for containing fancy articles, particularly for needles, gloves, dro., where there are various sizes and descriptions and numbered accordingly, and are assorted in separate compartments in one box or case for exhibition or on sale.

The object of my invention is to construct a box, of any desired size or shape, containing any number of separate apartments for holding the articles to be placed therein according to their assortment, each box having a separate and independent cover, which is to be removed from over a compartment in the case only by the salesman, who can himself remove only one lid or cover in a line of boxes at a time. The lids designating the number or kind of article contained in each compartment, so that the entire number of boxes in the nest, however numerous, will always be kept closed excepting that box containing the articles to be examined, thus obviating much trouble and expense, caused by articles being damaged by purchasers Where they are presented for examination promiscuously, and in open boxes,to be handled at the option of the purchaser, and, as is frequently the case, to be purloined without detection.

The nature of my invention consists in dividing and 4subdividing a box or case into any number of compartments by partitions and in providing each compartment with a cover, which is made to slide freely in grooves in the partitions, and in making the compartments in one end of the case blank, the covers of which are kept in place by helical or other suitable springs, so that by a gentle pressure upon these covers they can beforced down, so as to allow the cover of the adjacent box to slide over it and expose to view the articles contained in this compartment, and by sliding the next cover over this open box the one next to it will be opened, and so on through the whole line of boxes, one only being open at a time, described as follows:

A represents a shallow box divided into compartments B B by partitions C C, and subdivided by partitions D, having grooves a extending their ,entire length, into which grooves are placed sliding covers E E, each compartment being provided with a cover, all of which are made to lit nicely together.

F F F are boxes of the same shape andsize as those lettered B, provided with covers G G G, under which are helical springs I-l H for keeping the covers in the position shown by Fig. 3. These covers are recessed into the top of their boxes, so as to allow them a vertical play, and by a gentle pressure of the fingers upon the cover it will be depressed suiiiciently to allow the cover of the box next to it to be slid overit, as shown by Figs. 2 and 3. The cover of any one of the boxes BB in the salne line can then be slid back; but as one compartment is opened the other will be closed.

The covers of each box will have the number or character of the contents of each compartment engraved or printed upon it, so that when an article-such as, for instance, the number of i a spool of cotton or the number indicating the particular size of a paper of needles-is called for immediate reference can be had to the compartment containing such article.

This variety of show-case is capable of a very ue iinish, and can be ornamented acd cording to the taste and expense. The covers may be made of glass, so as to exhibit all the articles contained in the case, if found necessary; but the mode of operating these tion with the spring-covers G and compari;q

Would be the sinne as for the covels before ments F; constituting 2L new article of manudesoribed. facture. s

What I claim as my invention, and desire v j to secure by Letters Patent, is THOMAS LAWRENCE BALL' The construction of a case or box divided Witnesses:

into compartments, each box having a slid- MICH. HUGHES,

ing cover, arranged as set forth, in colnbnal EUGENE F. ROBERTS. 

